Accepting differences

By Ken Chester For The State News While snow swirled outside East Lansing High School on Saturday evening, a warm atmosphere of diversity, tolerance and brotherhood filled the cafeteria inside. "There are five words: Accept people as they are," said Tammam Alwan, president of MSU's Muslim Students' Association, introducing the evening's speaker. It was MSA's second annual Diversity Dinner, where mostly members of MSU's Muslim community shared traditional food, prayed and discussed race, diversity and religion. During the dinner's keynote speech, MSU visiting religion Professor Mohammad Khalil touched heavily on the subject of Muslim/non-Muslim community. "My hope is that we can open up lines of communications between various Muslims, and between Muslims and non-Muslims," he said. In harmony with Khalil's message, premedical freshman Garrett Nelson, who is Christian, attended the event because most of his friends are Muslim and he wanted to learn more about Islam. "All their moral values are like mine," he said.

Group re-enacts Easter Bible story

Thirteen MSU students carried a 12-foot cross weighing more than 50 pounds across campus on Friday. They carried it one at a time on their shoulders, re-enacting Jesus Christ's journey to crucifixion. "When I was carrying it, I can't imagine him carrying his own cross and putting the weight of the world on his shoulders just for us," said Stella Bunn, a kinesiology junior and member of His House Christian Fellowship.

State delays funds for culture groups

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's imposed a moratorium on all state grants, stunning arts and cultural organizations throughout the state. The moratorium, which took effect Wednesday, will delay $7.5 million in promised payments to arts and cultural groups until the end of the fiscal year, according to ArtServe Michigan. This moratorium is one of 10 issued by Granholm this week to deal with the state's immediate cash-flow crisis and force further efficiency in the government's overall operation. Michigan is facing a $940 million budget deficit this fiscal year.

East Village design to include city, residents' input

And then there was one. When Pierce Company officials left East Lansing five weeks ago, they said they'd return after narrowing down five preliminary design concepts for the East Village project. The San Diego-based master developer plans to unveil one design concept based from the original five when they visit in 10 days, said Theresa Nakata, vice president of marketing and communications for The Pierce Company Inc. "We're moving forward, and we're excited," Nakata said. City officials want the East Village redevelopment to bring a mix of retail, residential and entertainment properties to the area bounded by Hagadorn Road, East Grand River Avenue, Bogue Street and the Red Cedar River. Nakata said at the end of February that the representatives planned to bring back at least two or three concepts, which would take into consideration feedback from East Lansing residents. But Thursday, Nakata said architect David Moreno of Hollywood-based 5+Design was able to incorporate all the feedback from the numerous officials, property owners, students and community members into a single design.

Police briefs 04/06/07

Oakland out in MSU's campus search

Oakland University and Beaumont Hospitals announced Thursday they will construct a new medical school in Rochester. Oakland has withdrawn its proposal to become the new satellite location for MSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine. MSU Trustee Colleen McNamara said Oakland University officials are attempting to become the state's fourth research university, joining MSU, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. "Oakland is very savvy about how they pushed and looked at what the top three universities have," McNamara said.

Researchers track movements in 3-D

Researchers at MSU are working toward a new method of diagnosing the causes of neck pain by using 3-D imaging. In the past, doctors have not been able to easily diagnose and treat neck and back pain because measuring progress in patient cases is difficult. Using "advanced motion measurement" computer technology, researchers at MSU are tracking head and neck movements in 3-D.

Dinner, speech to focus on tolerance

The MSU Muslim Students' Association will have its annual Diversity Dinner from 6—10:30 p.m.

Experts debate affirmative action

The topic of whether affirmative action is reverse discrimination or equal opportunity has been debated for years. "Many people think of this as a racial issue, and it is not a racial issue," said Anton Woods, a computer engineering freshman.

Web site thwarts registry tactics

Across campus, in dorm rooms and computer labs, students are hunching down at computer screens to complete that all-too important spring ritual — signing up for next year's classes.

WEB EXTRA: Changes in weather keep students on their toes

Last week, students were playing catch and laying under the sun studying. Now they are running from class to class, trying to keep warm. "It's been quite back and forth — too much for my liking.

Rights group tells MSU to improve

Officials at a national First Amendment organization say they could list MSU as a place where constitutional speech isn't protected — unless the university responds satisfactorily to their demands. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, wants MSU to dismantle a disciplinary seminar it says stifles students' constitutional rights. The possible placement on the list "sounds to me like a threat," said Lee June, MSU's vice president for Student Affairs and Services.

Landfill bill proposed

Michigan landfills are charged with the duty of storing more than 42 million cubic yards of garbage every year.

Poetry raises awareness

"Every three minutes, a woman is beaten; every five minutes, a women is raped." As temperatures dropped and snow swirled outside, about 40 people packed into the warmth of Green River Café, 211 M.A.C.

Council to identify development week

The East Lansing City Council is recognizing National Community Development Week from April 9-15. The city annually receives more than $600,000 in funding from federal Community Development Block Grants, which supports down payment assistance for new homebuyers, infrastructure improvements in low-income neighborhoods and housing projects, such as the Virginia Avenue development.

SN ad manager wins national award

Candace Barnes, State News advertising manager, recently was honored as Advertising Manager of the Year by the College Newspaper Business and Advertising Managers, or CNBAM. "It feels so good to know that I've worked so hard to make changes and to make the office operate better as a whole," Barnes said.

MSU programs earn spots in report

U.S. News & World Report ranked nine MSU programs at the top of the list in the 2008 edition of America's Best Graduate Schools. The university's law school also moved up in the magazine's rankings by state. The programs are in the College of Education, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Eli Broad College of Business, Eli Broad Graduate School of Management and College of Natural Science. Although it dropped from fourth to fifth in the nation for primary care, the College of Osteopathic Medicine still holds the top spot in the country among osteopathic schools. For the third year in a row, the College of Education was ranked 14th overall.

Harrison Road closed until 3 p.m.

Southbound Harrison Road at Grand River Avenue will be closed until about 3 p.m. today. East Lansing Public Works officials are beginning the first phase of replacing water and sewer lines in the neighborhood.

Driving costs could increase with tax

With Michigan's roads in disrepair and pieces of dilapidated bridges falling on cars, two state representatives have found a solution they say everyone can rally around. Reps.

Summer program outreach

Upon first coming to MSU, Christina McGuffie said she felt unprepared for the college experience. She said because of a lack of proficient college preparation from Detroit's Murray Wright High School, she was not ready for the transition to a college curriculum. "The teachers and the environment made it really hard for us to learn and get anything accomplished," the criminal justice senior said.